Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Find cold beer, fish and chips at new Enchanted Forest Bar & Grill

JACKSON, MI – It’s new to Jackson, but Enchanted Forest Bar & Grill promises to bring good food and drinks to the area.

Fawzi Hamdan retired from the auto industry in 2016 and, missing his passion for the food industry, bought an empty building near Jackson two years later, hoping to bring something a little different, but familiar, to the area, he said.

“This has been on the back burner for many years,” Hamdan said. “I love people, I enjoy cooking. It’s always been my pleasure to serve people.”

The restaurant had its grand opening Thursday, May 12, and serves Mediterranean- and American-style food. While the menu is still being crafted, it’s large and will have almost anything for anyone, he said.

“The food is from watching my mother cook growing up, so a lot of the food here comes from the home,” Hamdan said. “A lot of the food people will eat here is what I grew up on.”

The menu offers a range of burgers, pasta, fish, soup and more. Some of the most popular items are the fish and chips, shawarma, the beef shish kebob and baby back ribs.

Along with the food, the restaurant prides itself in having a great bar, especially ice-cold beer, Hamdan said. A big dance floor and a nice outdoor patio can also be found at Enchanted Forest.

The restaurant is also proud to source food locally, add a home-made feel to everything on the menu, have a family-friendly atmosphere and great staff, Hamdan said.

The Enchanted Forest Bar & Grill, 3705 Ann Arbor Road, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The kitchen closes at 8 p.m. More information can be found on its Facebook page and website.

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